As spring arrives in all its beauty and the trees and shrubs bloom, our arborists frequently receive questions about when to prune flowering trees and shrubs. There are a few important things to know about pruning flowering trees and shrubs.
Pruning at the wrong time of year can significantly reduce or entirely remove the next bloom of flowers. Oftentimes the buds for next year’s flowers are set well before bloom, sometimes nearly a year prior. If these buds are removed they will not bloom the following season. This is why pruning at the proper time of year is so important.
So when should you prune? While the answer to this question can vary based on the plant type, there are few general rules that can be used.
Dead, damaged, and diseased limbs can be removed any time of year
There is never a wrong time to remove these problem limbs, so even if the tree is in full bloom, these limbs can come off.
As a general rule, prune right after bloom for spring bloomers
Most spring blooming trees and shrubs set their buds in the late summer and fall. Pruning in spring after bloom ensures that next year’s flower buds are not removed. Prune in late winter and early spring for late bloomers. For many summer blooming trees, such as crepe myrtle, these trees set their flower buds on the current years growth, so pruning can be done in later winter or early spring without fear of removing and flowers.
Sometimes removal of next year’s flower buds is necessary
If a tree needs to be pruned to improve its safety, the loss of next year’s flowers is a necessary cost. In addition, sometimes a tree needs a more drastic pruning. From a health perspective, this is often best done in the dormant season, which can mean removing some or all of next year’s flowers. Again, this is often seen as a necessary cost to improve the health of the tree.
While the general rules outlined above can help steer you in the right direction, trees and shrubs can vary in their ideal pruning times. Our ISA certified arborists would be happy to walk your property during one of our free property evaluations and answer questions you may have related to your flowering trees and shrubs.
When in doubt, ask one of Willow Tree Service’s ISA Certified Arborists. Contact Willow Tree and Landscape Services to discuss our pruning and plant health treatment services.